Helping people help animalsMany people consider their pets as much as part of their families as the humans. Firefighters recognize this and do their best to help animals affected by fires, floods and other disasters. Rescue gear designed for humans can often be adapted to use for animals, but outcomes are improved with equipment designed specifically for four-legged family members.On May 29, the Animal Angels Resource Foundation presented the Falcon Fire Protection District with a Breath of Air Recovery Kit, which contains three different sizes of oxygen masks specifically designed to fit animal faces. As a result, oxygen can be more effectively provided to an animal victim of an incident such as a fire or near drowning. The kit also contains leashes and a collapsible water bowl.According to information provided by AARF, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping keep pets and their families together. The B.A.R.K. project is a sponsor-funded community program intended to save animal lives. The Aerospace Womenís Committee is listed as the sponsor for the kit donated to FFPD. To learn more about sponsoring a B.A.R.K. project, visit http:/aarfhelp.org.The Falcon Fire Protection District thanks AARF and its volunteers for this generous and life-saving donation.Grants help firefighters improve serviceDonations and grants from organizations such as AARF can help public safety agencies improve service capabilities, especially in this era of tightened budgets. Over the past year, FFPD has been the beneficiary of several grants, including some that fulfill equipment needs identified during last yearís Black Forest fire.FFPD Division Chief Jeff Petersma said grants are one way for smaller departments to stretch their budgets, improve service to their citizens and increase firefighter safety. ìIt provides enhancements to our service delivery by providing equipment and increasing interoperability,î he said. Interoperability refers to the capability of emergency responders to communicate with one another ó an especially critical function during emergency incidents and disasters.Petersma said the district had budgeted in 2013 the installation of a new VHF repeater at FFPD Station 2 (on Meridian Road near Murphy Road) to improve radio communications in the north end of the district. New portable radios were also included in the budget. As a result of an El PomarFoundation grant following the Black Forest fire, FFPD upgraded its radio purchase to digital-capable state-of-the-art units to provide better interoperability with other local agencies, and to be able to ìprogram on the fly.î Petersma said communications and interoperability issues were noted in the after-action report for both the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires.El Pomar also funded a grant for wildland fire shelters. Firefighters carry these portable shelters as part of their wildland firefighting equipment. The shelters can be deployed as a last resort in the event firefighters are entrapped or overrun by fire. Petersma said FFPD had enough fire shelters to cover normal staffing scenarios. However, he said that during the Black Forest fire, ìThere were so many callbacks(firefighters coming in to work overtime on their days off) and reserves coming in there were not enough to go around.îThe Black Forest fire sparked another grant from Mountain View Electric Association. Petersma said the districtís existing chain saws were adequate for routine use; but, during the fire, crews needed to cut bigger trees at a faster rate. ìOur saws were undersized and underpowered,î he said. Thanks to MVEA, the district will be receiving four new heavy-duty chain saws and a roof vent saw in July.Softball and mended little heartsOn June 7, Falcon firefighters were part of a softball team of county firefighters that participated in the annual Guns & Hoses Charity Softball Tournament held at Sky Sox Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team members represented fire departments in Falcon, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Tri-Lakes/Monument, as well as American Medical Response (Falcon) and Memorial Hospital.The firefighters played on behalf of Mended Little Hearts of Colorado Springs, an organization dedicated to helping children with congenital heart defects.Unfortunately, the team was eliminated and will not play in the July 13 championship game. But organizer Matt Gibbs said fundraising for Mended Little Hearts is ongoing. Firefighters are continuing to sell tickets for the championship game between the Peterson AFB fire department team and Ft. Carsonís 721st Squadron PD/Military Police team. Tickets are only $10 each, and donations are also being accepted through the Mended Little Hearts website at http://mendedlittleheartsofcoloradosprings.org.
